DepEd: Avoid Unnecessary Class Disruptions

The Department of Education (DepEd) has reminded local government officials and other agencies to avoid unnecessary class suspensions and the use of schools as billeting areas for events unrelated to the curriculum.

The DepEd on Friday, Oct. 28, stressed the need to maximize learning recovery by preventing unnecessary class disruptions. 

This, it said, would provide students with uninterrupted classes and help teachers avoid unnecessary make-up sessions, which the agency described as additional burden to the teaching load.

“Amid the various challenges, DepEd remains steadfast in its pursuit to provide accessible and quality basic education for all. We, however, cannot do this alone. Therefore, we enjoin everyone to help our learners recover from learning losses and suspend classes only during public emergencies, severe weather disturbances and calamities,” the DepEd said in a statement.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte earlier mandated that the number of school days in the current school year should be solely dedicated to academics and related co-curricular activities.

The conduct of extracurricular activities during school days is prohibited.

“Curricular activities shall be conducted during the academic quarter to ensure that learners can seamlessly connect and integrate learning within and across learning areas while providing manageable breaks… On the other hand, co-curricular activities shall be conducted after the quarter examinations to avoid disruption of classes,” read Duterte’s first department order issued in July.

The DepEd has yet to issue the guidelines identifying co-curricular and extracurricular activities.

Duterte also issued the revised guidelines on class suspensions, which expanded the instances when classes in public schools will be suspended during calamities.

The same order also prohibited the use of school buildings as quarantine facilities and vaccination sites. Schools are only allowed to be used as evacuation centers for up to 15 days to minimize class disruptions.

Suspensions

Classes in several areas were suspended on Friday, Oct. 28, due to the heavy rainfall brought about Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

In Metro Manila, among those that suspended classes in all levels were the local governments of Valenzuela, Taguig, Pasig, Marikina, Muntinlupa and Pateros.

Classes in all levels were also suspended in Cavite, Rizal, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Albay, Sorsogon, Bohol, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Cotabato City, Cebu City and parts of Cebu, Romblon, Marinduque, Negros Occidental and Capiz.

Suspended up to senior high school, public and private, were classes in Caloocan, Manila, Laguna and Siquijor.

Based on the guidelines under DepEd’s Order No. 37, classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in public schools are automatically suspended in areas under tropical cyclone wind signals.

Automatic class suspensions also apply to public elementary and high schools in areas under orange and red rainfall warning, as well as flood warnings issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services administration.

Meanwhile, classes at college level are automatically suspended in areas under signal No. 3, based on existing guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education.

Local chief executives and school administrators may also cancel classes in areas not covered by automatic suspensions. – With additional reports from Ghio Ong